Summer Love with my Best Friend

"Hey Remus?"

Remus looked up at Sirius sitting across from him. "Yes?"

"Can I come home with you this summer?" Sirius asked. "I've gone to James's house, and to Peter's, but I've never been to yours."

Remus's heart quickened. "Ummm I'm not sure that's the best idea..." He said, imaging Sirius's reaction to his Muggle friends and his summer life.

"Awww why not?" Sirius pouted.

"I'm not sure you'd like the summer me..." Remus trailed off, seeing Sirius's puppy dog eyes. "Don't you dare- fine. You can come home with me this summer." He gave in.

Sirius brightened. "Yay!" He cheered childishly. Remus marked his place in his book and stood up. "I'll write my parents."

~

It was the summer of 1976, between 5th and 6th year. Like any other year, Remus had gotten off the Hogwarts Express and found his parents. He had gone home with them and put his stuff away in the attic, where his Muggle friends wouldn't find it. He then went to his room, checking that nothing had been disturbed.

This time however, was slightly different. Sirius was with him. None of his wizarding friends had ever been to his house. Sure, he'd gone over to James's house during the summer and Peter's over Christmas, but his house was in a way off-limits. But then again, Sirius never listened to the rules.

That's what Remus loved about him. Sure, being in love with one of his best friends was difficult, even more so when that friend was male as well. But Remus accepted that he was gay, how could he not? Why should he hate himself for liking males when he had other problems? Such as turning into a snarling, savage beast every full moon?

There was that slight problem of it being the 70s. The AIDS crisis was dying down, thank God, but homosexuality was still widely hated. Even more so now, after the disease that had swept the world. People were afraid. Afraid of becoming one of the walking skeletons that overflowed hospitals. Afraid of disease, of death, of him. He was one of the lucky ones, he hadn't realized he was gay until 2nd year, and even then he didn't have access to any other homosexuals, excepting one. But he knew that he was safe with that person, they'd both gotten tested. If he had been one of the bed ridden ones, then he would have gladly accepted death. Being a werewolf was already taking a toll on him, imagine trying to transform while diseased with AIDS!

Remus sighed and sat down on his bed. Sirius looked at him. "Whatcha thinking about?" he asked and Remus lay back. "Everything. And nothing."

The phone rang before Sirius had chance to answer. Remus sat up annoyed and grabbed the phone off the wall, stretching the cord so he could lay against his pillows.

"Whoever disturbed me, I swear I will-" he began but was cut off by Lori, one of his friends.

"Remus Lupin! You have been home a total of 20 minutes and you haven't called me yet? I am severely offended." Lori shouted at him and Remus winced.

"Quiet down Lor, and yes, I have not called you yet, I've been getting a friend from school situated in my hellhole house." Remus said exasperatedly, unable to be mad at his childhood best friend. There was silence on the other end for a moment and then a loud screech.

"You brought a school friend back with you????? Remus!!! My house. Now. Bring them." The phone clicked and was silent. Remus dragged a hand over his face and looked up at Sirius, who was staring at the phone with wide eyes.

"That's a, that's a, what is that?" Sirius asked in astonishment. "A phone. Remember, I told you about them? Anyways, my Muggle best friend would like to make your acquaintance, and she is not one to defy. Reminds me of Lily actually." Remus said while standing up. He walked out of the room and then looked back in. "Come on, she only lives a few minutes away." Sirius followed him out of the house, muttering about Muggles and technology.